Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1887-05-01
YAnIIIAn TALKs -. q.

81 3. MEKKKR.
Iwnrrrxn FoB THE PosT-urKELloENcxn.l
Two weeks in the interior Of New
York State among the hop farmers
and dairymen is enough TO convince
any one that a large percentage Of
Eastern agriculturists have much more
% learn, and more still opportunity to
improve in practice, than the average
Western man would expect to find.
Itb not, however, Of their shortcom-
ings, or Of the unthriftiness Of the
many, that l would write about, or
that my readers would care 10 hear
about, for We have enough Of that at
home; but rather Of the advanced
practice Of farming. dairying, feeding
and breeding, that will be reviewed.
Ia q country where snow had fallen
from eight to eighteen feet, according
70 locality, where steady feeding for
seven months is practieed, and where
the cold Is often intense, no wonder
that such care has been taken 70 pro-
Eids suitable housing for stock. Bright
red barns with stone Easements, with
siding and ceiling tighter than our av-
erage residences, are 70 be seen in
many localities, q dozen or more in
sight from a given place, some Of them
now half century old, yet in good
repair.
Little Falls is the center OF a large
dairying district, and is claimed to be
the largest dairy market in the United
States | timed my visit 80 as to be
there on Monday, that being their
market day, when the statesmen Of fac
tories or farmers in their own interest
come In with cases Of small drawn
samples Of their cheese or butter, 70
meet buyers and drive sharp bargains.
Unfortunately the spring breakup,
with the resultant bad roads and very
unusual high water, prevented a full
market, nevertheless had the satls-
faction Of being introduced TO rs many
Of the dairymen as | could exchange
views with during the day there.
IL Is not hops alone that tluctuate in
price. The woful account gwen by the
cheese men, OF how " choice full cream
cheese sold for seven cents per pound
two years ago, was told over and over
again, until many got discouraged and
went out OF the business entirely, or
greatly reduced their diaries. Now,
however, prices are back again 10 eleven
eeats for cheese and twenty seven to
thirty for butter, and farmers are pros
porous and happy.
With three Of the best farmers Wis
tied found the silo in use and ensilage
yet in store, and the stock regularly
Ted upon it, thriving well. All three
Of these we're breeders Of enc stock
and dairymen; had had experience in
feeding ensilage respectively five, seven
and nine years; each gaNe unequiyO-
cal, hearty endorsement of the system
and showed by their thrift the result
Of intelligent feeding. ] had before
heard such contradictory reports, both
verbal and printed, that | must say
there was more than a doubt In my
mind about the merits Of the system
but the three DAYS with these gentle
men, examining their silos and the
contents, and seeing the herds fed
thereon, convinced me beyond all
shadow Of doubt, and 80 | viii put IN
q silO aud an Il with ensilage upon the
creamery farm, where all who choose
can see for themselves " how it works.
Any crop we grow will do for ensilage
corn probably is best, II grown until
the ears set Just ready for roast
ing ears" The large Southern variety
Is used; but after buying and shipping
ten bushels OF seed at somewhat high
price, | was told that any OF the sound
Western corn" Was just As good, and
shall also plant some Of that kind
alongside, 20 test the merits of the two
Nevertheless, shall now plant prinei.
pally OF the kind particularly recon-
mended As growing fourteen feet
high and yielding thirty To fifty
tons per acre. This is planted in
drills three aud = half 10 four feet
apart, sin stocks to the running foot
In the drill. and Is thoroughly cult
waited, or NAV be sown broadcast upon
well prepared land, which may be twice
narrowed with slAnting tooth harrow
after the corn is up. In either case Il
Is ready 90 cut in one hundred days
from date Of planting,
Green oats cut In the milk " is good.
aud IN our climate may prove 20 be as
profitable as corn or barley be
even better, Is the straw is more valu-
able Clover is also used, as well a.
almost any kind Of early cut grass
grass cut before the bloom is on. and
Of this We doubtless can cut two crops
year with our soil and IN our eli
mate.
In either case. whatever crop Is used
whether grain, grass OF clover, Il Is
hauled directly 20 the silo without cur.
ing and put IN without delay. One Of
my lntoTmants, however. said that Il
cut little early, he preferred 20 I" wilt
before storing aud another men
toned the same as regards clover
The ensilage that | saw bad all beer
cut, bus | was assured that, while thu;
Is preferable. it is by no means neces
sary 10 the success OF the system. Il
can be stored more compactly whef
cut, but. when stored uncut, the eau
uoa given was 90 " oil IN and trAmy
down close around next 81 the wall,
and hy 80 doing would avoid all dan
ger Of loss, In feeding uncut eRsilag'
the ple Is cut down in strips or int
blocks with hroad-Axe or some suits
he tool. ike cutting down hAymos
a. fed, simply short enough for conye
nieat handling.
some silos | saw were built Of soln
concrete walls, with concrete bottom,
While Others were Of lumber, the wall
being double thickness OF boards. Wit
taVrcd or common building paper h
tween. 10 make the walls air-ight, 9
a. nearly 50 - possible A doahl
wall, hlled in with saWdust weui
doubtless answer the purpose admin
by, though none we're seen constructe
IN that mAnneT, These are nled
tron the top. No injury vii result
additions 20 cover ths whole surface a.
made every three days, OF before q
hsAt and steam taxa effect - IS
hl&cksn the surface and before decon
pas ION heeins After the silo i EiiE